Rear Adm. James R. McNeal, SC, USN (Ret.) was born in Hawaii and raised in Southern California. The son of a 1962 USNA grad, he graduated from the Naval Academy in 1986. After six years on Active Duty in the Supply Corps, he transitioned into the Reserve component, retiring in 2017.

Articles by James McNeal

The greased Herndon monument before the climb begins.

The Rich History of the Herndon Climb

By Rear Admiral Jim McNeal, U.S. Navy Reserve (Retired), and Scott Tomasheski
August 2020
This article is drawn from the authors’ new Naval Institute Press book, The Herndon Climb, which tells the story of the Naval Academy’s iconic tradition.

Books by James McNeal